SHOP LOCAL

New campaign in Saratoga County designed to help local businesses

SARATOGACOUNTY, N.Y. » A newcampaign called “Save Our Locals” is aiming to help local businesses before they are gone forever.

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is leading the effort to bring awareness to community members on how crucial it is to shop at local, independent businesses to help ensure their survival as restrictions on businesses due to COVID-19 continues to take a toll.

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with business organizations across Saratoga

County - including Discover Saratoga, Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, the Mechanicville-Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association, Saratoga Springs City Center, and the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association - in this united effort to save local businesses.

A special Save Our Locals logo has been created and shared with thousands of local businesses via email and socialmedia.

Businesses of all kinds are being urged to print and display this logo to re

mind their customers, clients, and employees to support local businesses in the coming weeks and months.

“As winter nears, many local businesses continue to operate with severe restrictions placed on them in the effort to stop the spread of COVID 19,” Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus said in a press release.

“These restrictions are already having a devastating economic impact locally. We all need to realize just how hard it is to sustain a business over a number of months if not longer when you can only use 25 percent of your space as is the case with fitness facilities or 50 percent of your space with restaurants.”

Like the Stronger Together Saratoga County campaign instituted by the chamber earlier this year, the Save Our Locals campaign is meant to bring awareness to consumers on how crucial it is to shop locally, especially for the upcoming holiday season.

The campaign is highlighting Saratoga County restaurant take-out and online gift card sales for local businesses that offer them, including salons and spas, retail stores, florists, home goods, gyms, photographers, breweries, and wineries.

In addition to the awareness campaign, the chamber is in the process of organizing a Save Our Locals hotline that local businesses can call if they have a question.

The Chamber’s Saratoga County SCORE chapter of volunteer business counselors will also be available for virtual and in-person confidential sessions to help small businesses looking for advice to adapt their finances, human resources, sales, marketing, andmore.

“Winter is coming. COVID 19 is still here. Let’s join together to Save Our Locals,” Shimkus added in the release. “We are Stronger Together in Saratoga County. Let us know if we can help your business. Let us know if you can help others as well.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SARATOGA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Two Uncommon Grounds representatives hold a Save Our Locals pumpkin while standing in front of the coffee shop on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. Save Our Locals is a new campaign by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s new Save Our Locals aimed at saving local businesses.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SARATOGA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Pumpkins engraved with the phrase “Save Our Locals” can be found at businesses around Saratoga County.

Union Hall Supply Co., Lifestyles and Caroline & Main owner Heidi OwenWest displays a pumpkin carved with the phrase “Save Our Locals” while standing in front of her store on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE SARATOGA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Malta brewery Unified Beerworks is part of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s new Save Our Locals campaign, a united effort to save local businesses.

Brennan Wojdyla of Sievert Sporting Goods in Clifton Park, an independent small business and Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce member, displays a pumpkin carved with the phrase “Save Our Locals.”

Local entrepreneur Amanda VanPelt shows off a “Save Our Locals” pumpkin engraved by her business Saratoga Custom Engraving.

Healthy Living Market and Café is part of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s new Save Our Locals campaign.